Discover vast ecosystems that exist because of methane gas

(A marine research expedition funded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM - US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management), and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has led to The discovery could be the largest methane hydrothermal vents (methane cold seep) by two research groups of the university and their partners, UNCW announced on May 22, 2013 (UNCW - University of North Carolina at Wilmington - Carolia Northern University Wilmington).

This area of hydrothermal vents is located deep west of the North Atlantic, far from the solar energy that helps sustain life. The boys lie on the exit of air bubbles and rely on bacteria that use methane to produce energy. This process is called chemosynthesis, which forms the basis for life in harsh environments and can help scientists better understand why organisms can survive under etching conditions. so harsh.

'UNCW and FSU (Florida State University) have completed two ocean exploration trips together and this is probably our biggest discovery , ' said UNCW researcher Dr. Steve Ross. 'Studies on this and these populations help scientists understand how life can thrive in harsh environments, and perhaps even on other planets'. .

The discoveries of this new methane hydrothermal vents are just one of three recorded locations in the US Atlantic coast, and are by far the largest-scale location, two other areas. The US Atlantic coast is estimated to be at least 1km long and hundreds of meters wide. Scientists also observed that sea cucumbers are intertwined between sea oysters and shrimps swim on them. Many fish species, including some with unusual behavior, often appear around this unique ecosystem.

Stationed on NOAA's Ronald H. Brown, research groups used the diverse capabilities of remote control cars of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Jason II to calculate and study freedoms. This new methane . Research groups were able to shoot high-definition videos, take sediment samples at the study site, collect living boys to study their genetics and reproduction, collect shells. of dead large shellfish and rocks for chronological analysis, taking water samples to test chemical properties and collecting relevant animal samples to study the food chain.

Detecting these hydane hydrothermal vents is likely to play an important role in promoting scientific understanding of oil and gas and hydrate resources (these energy sources can be important in the future. hybrid) along the American continental slope.

Main funding for research expeditions provided by the Marine Energy Administration, along with NOAA funding Ronald H. Brown and Jason ROV, US Geological Survey and other collaborators also provide grant a variety of support.